Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control. The Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association hold a Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safe Driving Competition every June to test school bus drivers' knowledge of safety rules and safe operation of their buses in two types of bus categories: conventional and transit. If you have no choice and you must back your bus, follow these procedures: A school bus can have up to a 3-foot tail swing. Each year, PennDOT sponsors a school bus safety poster contest for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Painted lines and pavement markings do not count. The adoption of this system will improve student transportation and road safety and align Ontario with measures taken in all . The advance warning sign tells you to slow down, look and listen for the train, and be prepared to stop at the tracks if a train is coming. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Increase or decrease ultimate stopping power. Determine if evacuation is in the best interest of safety. The bus driver may also indicate for you to go ahead, although even then, you must exercise due caution just in case there are still kids trying to cross the road. In addition, a stop arm with flashing red lights extends out on the left side of the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or driveway. In Florida, drivers cannot pass a bus displaying the stop signal. Therefore, emergency evacuation procedures must be explained to all students. You must remain stopped until the school bus. This mirror is used to monitor passenger activity inside the bus. As a result, knowing what to do before, during, and after loading or unloading students is critical. Is there a hazardous spill involved? Check out this graphic that helps illustrate Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law. At Murphy & Prachthauser we practice personal injury law the way it should be practiced motivated and equipped to do our best for you. This will keep the students from being hit by debris if another vehicle collides with the bus. And every time someone doesn't stop for the bus, a child's life is at risk. There is also a no passing zone sign on 2-lane roads. Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability, Special Interest and Personalized License Plates Orders, New Trailer and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Report of Sale, Vehicle & Occupational Licensing Industry News Memos, Vehicle Industry Services Resources & Links, Industry Business Center Case Status Request, Occupational Licensing Status Information System, Section 4: Transporting Passengers Safely, The History of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Motor Vehicles Strategic Plan: 2021-2026, Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program, Department of Motor Vehicles Field Office Wait Times Reports, Department of Motor Vehicles Performance Reports, Privacy Policy Statement (Privacy/Security), install the Google Toolbar (opens in new window). Kids are back in school, school zone lights are flashing, and the police are out in force enforcing the law in school zones. This also applies to highways where vehicles are traveling in both directions. Students should board the bus only when signaled by the driver. Students may drop an object near the bus during loading and unloading. For instance, if youre driving on a highway with a significant barrier in the middle, only the vehicles following the bus should stop. Move as far as possible to the right on the traveled portion of the roadway. The driver of a vehicle on meeting, from either direction, any school bus flashing red lights must stop the vehicle at no closer than 15 feet before reaching the school bus. The bus driver will flash lights on the front and rear of the bus. Remember, children are often unpredictable and may not see you coming. Please enable scripts and reload this page. When engaged, these light will flash simultaneously. Make certain no one is running to catch the bus. If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet or approximately 510 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety. Drivers must stay stopped until the red lights are off. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. In general, school buses must stop at all crossings, and drivers must ensure it is safe before proceeding across the tracks. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. Drive normally, but get the system serviced soon. The bus driver waved the car through the red flashing lights, unaware a child was crossing the road at that time. Come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the bus. You may or may not be able to stop faster with ABS, but you should be able to steer around an obstacle while braking, and avoid skids caused by over braking. The right and left front tires touching the ground. You should position these mirrors to see: Figure 10.3 shows how both the outside left and right side convex mirrors should be adjusted. What Do I Need To Know About School Bus Flashing Lights? Do not attempt to cross the tracks unless you can see far enough down the track to know for certain that no trains are approaching. The position of the bus may change and increase the danger. Figure 10.1 illustrates these danger zones. Remain stopped until the gates go up and the lights have stopped flashing. A train is approaching. The area from the front of the bus to the service door. This type of crossing has a traffic control device installed at the crossing to regulate traffic at the crossing. Turn on the right turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately 3-5 seconds before pulling over. Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law Fact Sheet, School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement Approved Systems, School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement System Approval Requirements, Operation Safe Stop - Public Participation Information, Operation Safe Stop - Law Enforcement Participation Information, PennDOT School Bus Safety Poster Contest Guidelines. 60 (Peace River North) near Fort St. John. Diagram 5-4 The statute requires: Stopping your vehicle at least 20ft from the bus. You can prevent school bus/train accidents by following these recommended procedures. If you see flashing red lights, that means the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading . If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet or approximately 5-10 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law. Always do a pre-trip inspection prior to every run to check for mechanical defects that could jeopardize safety. Air brake vehicle, (trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies) built on or after March 1, 1998. Here are the rules: If you're on a two-lane road, both directions need to stop. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, load or unload children. Pavement markings mean the same as the advance warning sign. Brake the same way, regardless of whether you have ABS on the bus. They can even move the school bus off the road or, in extreme conditions, tip it over. Bus Stalls or Is Trapped on the Tracks. Backing is dangerous and increases your risk of an accident. Position yourself to supervise unloading. Be prepared to act appropriately in emergency and crash situations. Approximately 100 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania participate in the competition each year. on roads that are divided to separate. Use caution when using a public computer or device. Escort all students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, or any grades 1 through 8, inclusive, who need to cross the highway or private road where the school bus stopped. . As of July 1, 2018, it is required that a passenger in a bus equipped with seat belts to be properly restrained by a safety belt. These rules help you play your part in keeping the children safe and may vary from state to state, although there are some commonalities among them. Do not depend on these lights if traveling behind a school bus. Every school bus shall be equipped with a crossview mirror mounted on the front exterior of the bus to provide the seated driver with a clear view of the area directly in front of the bus (CCR, Title 13 1258). The Governors Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) reports that in New York State, 2.3 million children are transported by more than 50,000 school buses annually. Unlawfully driving around one will result in fines, court costs and possibly even jail. For more information on the contest, and to view previous winners, click here. Copyright 2020 Murphy & Prachthauser, SC - All Rights Reserved - Milwaukee Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers |, Defective and Dangerous Product Attorneys. Violations can lead to a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense. Be certain the bus has enough containment or storage area to completely clear the railroad tracks on the other side if there is a need to stop. School bus safety is a high priority in Pennsylvania. The speed for both urban and rural schools zones is 30 km/h unless otherwise posted. When interacting with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Virtual Assistant, please do not include any personal information. According to The Bellingham Herald, the general rule is that drivers overtaking or meeting a school bus that's stopped on the side of the road and has activated a visual signal shall stop before reaching it. When your other wheels lock up, you may skid or even spin the vehicle. So whether youre behind the bus or in the next lane, you should stop. Observe the students as they step from the bus to see that they all move promptly away from the unloading area. Hydraulic-braked trucks and buses with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more, built on or after March 1, 1999. You must use extreme caution when approaching a school bus stop. Buses should be treated differently than you would treat an average-sized vehicle. And if you drive, there's no doubt you will encounter FCPS and private school buses. Vehicle Owners - A law was passed in 2019 1 that authorizes school districts and municipalities to use stop-arm cameras on school buses to impose penalties on the owners of vehicles which pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and red lights on the school bus are flashing. Stopping to pick up the object or returning to pick up the object may cause the student to disappear from the drivers sight at a very dangerous moment. ABS only comes into play when a wheel would normally have locked up because of over braking. Your school bus will have a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the instrument panel if equipped with ABS. When you brake hard on slippery surfaces in a vehicle without ABS, your wheels may lock up. If there is no white line painted on the pavement, you must stop the bus before the crossbuck sign. You should always check each mirror before operating the school bus to obtain maximum viewing area. Perform a safe stop as described in Section 10. Why should you be extra cautious at this type of crossing? Drivers must stop in both directions, unless separated from the bus by a median. First conviction - fine of $250-$400 and/or up to 30 days in jail, Second conviction within 3 years - fine of $600-$750 and/or up to 180 days in jail, Vehicle Owners - A law was passed in 2019, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, Governors Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) website, Automated Records Access for Businesses and Government, DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. Students should wait in a designated location for the school bus, facing the bus as it approaches. The bus is stalled on or adjacent to a railroad-highway crossing. If there is more than 1 track, make sure all tracks are clear before crossing. When unloading at the school, you should follow these procedures: Dropped or Forgotten Objects. See Figure 10.8. In California, the law states that: Drivers behind school buses must stop when school buses stop and display their flashing red lights (and extend their stop signs, if equipped). A school bus driver activates these lights AT LEAST 100 feet before stopping. The NY State Education Department, Department of Pupil Transportation, states that the youngest students are most at risk. School bus safety tips for drivers: Prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing. Remember, the decision to evacuate the bus must be a timely one. School buses will also have flashing headlights. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus: Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. As a system check on newer vehicles, the malfunction lamp comes on at start-up for a bulb check and then goes out quickly. Slow down in or near school and residential areas. Would moving students complicate injuries such as neck and back injuries and fractures? There is a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror and directly in back of the rear bumper. Post a lookout. Drivers who illegally pass a bus face up to a $1,000 fine and could have their license suspended for one year. It means that drivers have to be even more careful to look out for children crossing the street and for school buses. The Governors Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) reports that in New York State, 2.3 million children are transported by more than 50,000 school buses annually.Laws protect students who are getting on and off a school bus by making it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and the red lights on the school bus are flashing, regardless of the direction of approach. When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on a four lane two way roadway which lanes must stop? Each state has laws and regulations governing how school buses must operate at railroad-highway crossings. When approaching a school bus traveling in the opposite direction, a driver must slow the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less when yellow lights are seen, and be prepared to stop when the stop arm is extended and red lights flash. This is becoming a concern in School District No. Check all mirrors. Always be aware of children and parents that may be waiting at a school bus stop or perhaps running to catch the bus before it departs. the best way to get on and off; and the six rules of safe riding - school bus flashing lights stock videos & royalty-free footage. What do flashing lights on bus mean? The penalty for passing a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal goes from a minimum of $200 to $400 . The entire area in front of the bus from the front bumper at ground level to a point where direct vision is possible. Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily. on roads that are divided to separate the directions of travel, in the direction that the bus is traveling. For more information, please visit the Operation Lifesaver website. When your chat is over, you can save the transcript. School buses make frequent stops, so be patient and drive at a reasonable speed. How do you promote a culture of safety in your home or place of work? More students are killed while getting on or off a school bus each year than are killed as passengers inside of a school bus. What happens if you pass a school bus with flashing lights? If you drive past a stopped school bus with its overhead red lights flashing or its stop arm activated, you can face: First offence fines ranging from $400 to $2,000 6 demerit points Each following offence fines ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 6 demerit points possible jail time of up to 6 months Stop arm cameras on school buses Proper adjustment and use of all mirrors is vital to the safe operation of the school bus in order to observe the danger zone around the bus and look for students, traffic, and other objects in this area. If there is no police officer, and you believe the signal is malfunctioning, call your dispatcher to report the situation and ask for instructions on how to proceed. However, sometimes drivers don't always recognize the law in a school zone. This law is in place whether you are following the bus or approaching from the opposite direction and allows students to leave the bus safely. (1) The operator of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus that has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately . You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. What documents do you need to get an AB 60 license? Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. The first-time fine for illegally passing a school bus is $250 - $400 and/or possibly 30 days in jail. ABS should prevent brake-induced skids but not those caused by spinning the drive wheels or going too fast in a turn. Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing? One way states seek to reduce these types of tragic accidents is by establishing strict rules for when motorists must stop for school buses. Yellow or amber lights before the bus stops, and red lights go on when it has stopped. These questions may be on your test. If you see or hear an emergency vehicle, you should be aware that although the emergency vehicle is required to come to a complete stop when it encounters a school bus loading or unloading students, it is legal for it to proceed with caution even if the bus's eight-way light system is still activated, as long as it doesn't risk the safety of the students. If there is a behavior problem on the bus, wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away. Approach cautiously at a slow rate of speed. However, vehicles moving in the opposite direction can pass if theres a raised barrier or an unpaved median five feet or larger. Never play with the emergency exits. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website uses Google Translate to provide automatic translation of its web pages. However, the decision to proceed rests entirely in your hands. Crossbuck Signs. When a school bus is flashing its red overhead lights? If you keep these laws in mind as you operate your vehicle or bicycle, you keep others safe and promote a culture of safety. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms mean the bus has stopped and that children are . Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach. If a school bus is still moving but coming to a stop, and its lights are flashing - yellow or red - it is illegal to pass. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction. It does not matter how many lanes the road has. The minimum fine for failing to stop for a school bus is $250. . Look for pedestrians, traffic, or other objects before, during, and after coming to a stop. Remember: The best vehicle safety feature is still a safe driver. The new Eight Lamp Amber-Red Warning system uses two stages of flashing overhead signal-lights to signal that a school bus is slowing (amber lights) and stopping (red lights) to improve clarity to surrounding road users. However, if it has stopped and its red lights are flashing, then you must stop and wait until it resumes motion and turns off its lights. The Stop-Arm Police actively seek out stop-arm violators. School buses have bigger blind spots, take longer to stop, and need more room to maneuver than a standard vehicle. However, drivers must yield the right-of-way if other traffic is approaching from the opposite direction. The visual signal, in this case, is a stop sign extended out of the bus, flashing red lights, or both. Lead students upwind (into the wind) of the bus if fire is present. In order to get students to and from school safely and on time, you need to be able to concentrate on the driving task. If a police officer is at the crossing, obey directions. All stops should be approved by the school district prior to making the stop. School buses not only alert drivers to the presence of children, but the rules of the road require drivers to act in a certain way around buses to enhance the safety of the children getting off the bus. If you must back up at a student drop off point, be sure to unload students after backing. Pennsylvania law prohibits children from standing on the bus while the bus is in motion. When all students are accounted for, prepare to leave by: When it is safe, move the bus, enter the traffic flow, and continue the route. If the bus is also equipped with amber or yellow lights, these lights are used to signal that the bus will be slowing down. What does this mean for drivers and preventing auto accidents? Find professional School Bus Flashing Lights videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. It is important for drivers to know how to react to a school bus in operation. Here's a list of the latest school bus laws in Ohio: The driver of any vehicle approaching a school bus in any direction must stop at least ten feet from the front or rear of the school bus. Use strobe lights only when visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less due to atmospheric conditions including, but not limited to, fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust (CVC 25257.7). Be sure to provide adequate instruction so that every student is familiar with school bus emergency procedures and equipment use, as well as the safe loading and unloading procedures. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus: on a two-lane road on multi-lane highways on divided highways Share the Road Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. RELATED SCHOOL CONTENT: Sacramento approves. Students should be told to leave any dropped object and move to a point of safety out of the danger zones and attempt to get the drivers attention to retrieve the object. According to the California law (CVC 22454), motorists must remain stopped as long as the red lights on the school bus are flashing. As you slow down, monitor your bus and back off the brakes (if it is safe to do so) to stay in control.
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